Marian Soccer Focused on Another Deep Tournament Run

As postseason play begins, Marian soccer enters the most important stretch of the season with confidence, experience, and a clear sense of identity. The Mustangs are coming off an emotional and dominant 8-0 victory over Ann Arbor Greenhills on May 2nd in their annual Blood Cancer Awareness Game. The match carried extra meaning as the team honored those impacted by blood cancers while continuing its strong run of form heading into tournament play.

The win also served as another example of the depth and balance Marian has shown throughout the season. After finishing atop their group with four wins, Marian heads into the Catholic High School League semifinals as the No. 1 seed. Head coach Danny Price believes the team’s confidence comes from the consistency they have shown all year. “We are confident in who we are right now,” Price said. “We topped the group with four wins, so we are heading into Tuesday’s semifinal as the No. 1 seed.” That confidence has been built through steady preparation. While the intensity has increased with the postseason approaching, the team has not changed its approach in practice. “Just continuing what we are doing really,” Price said. “Our practice structure hasn’t really changed, just the intensity around it.”

At this point in the season, Marian’s identity has become well established. The Mustangs have proven to be difficult to break down defensively while also posing a threat from multiple players offensively. “They are very hard to beat, resilient, and we have six or seven scoring threats on this team,” he said. For Marian, success in the CHSL tournament will depend on staying focused on the standards the team has set from the beginning of the season. “Believing in who we are, what our goals and standards are, and maintaining them,” Price said. The pressure of tournament soccer adds another layer of intensity, especially in a single-elimination format where every match could be the last. “Any tournament play is important — one loss and you go home,” he said. “We will be focusing on retaining the CHSL title one game at a time.” The challenge level within the Catholic League only heightens the importance of every moment. According to Price, the league’s competitiveness prepares teams well for postseason success. “The CHSL is a tough nut to crack,” he said. “It is a very passionate league and arguably one of the most difficult leagues across the state.”

Once CHSL play concludes, Marian will quickly turn its attention toward the Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament. However, Price does not believe the team’s mindset will need to change much moving forward. “I really don’t think it’s a shift in mindset, but just re-focusing on our goals and standards, making sure that we focus on one game at a time,” he said. The lessons learned throughout league play are expected to carry over into the state tournament atmosphere.

“Anything can happen,” Price said. “Focus on what we can control, which is us — our style of play, our effort, maintaining who we are. The rest will take care of itself.” Even with the team’s success, Marian continues to look for areas to improve before the postseason intensifies further. “Team defensive shape and transition out of possession,” he said. One of the biggest strengths of this year’s group is its experience. Many players were part of Marian’s run to the state finals two seasons ago, while much of the roster also helped capture the 2025 CHSL title. That experience has helped the team remain composed despite high expectations. “This is a very mature group,” Price said. “They know not to get carried away. They know, like last year, it can be taken away if you don’t prepare and show it properly. Thus far they have shown they are capable of handling the pressure and responsibility that comes with the success we have had here at Marian.”

With both league and state tournament goals still ahead, Marian’s focus remains fixed on playing its best soccer when it matters most. And ultimately, the team hopes that journey ends on the biggest stage. “We want to be competing in East Lansing on June 14th,” Price said. “I believe the talent in this team should be represented on the biggest stage, and once we get there, I think success looks like achieving the goals we set out at the start of the season.”